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Valkyries overcome 16-point second-half deficit to stun Wings, advance to WNBA semifinals

Christian Babcock, The Mercury News on

Published in Basketball

SAN FRANCISCO — One of the most remarkable comebacks in WNBA history has sent the Golden State Valkyries to the WNBA semifinals.

The Valkyries overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to author a stunning 77-73 comeback win that advanced them to face the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA’s second round.

Gabby Williams’ 17-foot pull-up with 1:17 remaining gave Golden State a 73-72 lead, then four clutch free throws down the stretch sealed the game as the Valkyries’ defense limited Dallas down the stretch.

The game had absolutely everything, including Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase collapsing onto the court during a fourth-quarter timeout. Nakase left the floor after the game ended alongside a team staffer.

The Valkyries trailed by as many as 16 points as their offense abandoned them early in the third quarter, with Golden State failing to move the scoreboard until the 5:38 mark.

They mounted a stirring comeback after that, cutting the deficit to three points late in the quarter on Williams’ 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining.

Dallas quickly pushed the deficit back to seven early in the fourth quarter. Golden State cut it to two on Veronica Burton’s layup with 8:19 remaining.

 

The Valkyries tied the game 65-65 on Kaila Charles’ 3-pointer with 6:51 left.

Golden State retook the lead for the first time since the early second quarter when Veronica Burton’s fast-break layup dropped with 4:56 to play.

Dallas retook the lead on Arike Ogunbowale’s second-chance 3-pointer, then extended it to three with two Ogunbowale free throws, then to five on Ogunbowale’s floater with 3:10 left.

Williams finished with a team-high 19 points for the Valkyries.

Ogunbowale scored a game-high 30 points for the Wings, while star guard Paige Bueckers scored 17 points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field.


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